Immunocytochemical studies of cardiac myocytes and other non-neuronal cells of the fetal human heart in culture

Hassall, C. J. S.; Penketh, Richard; Rodeck, C. H.; Burnstock, Geoffrey

doi:10.1007/bf02433494

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Other uses of the cultures studied here, and in the following paper that describes non-neuronal cells which are also present in these mixed preparations (Hassall et al, 1990), would be in further investigation of the role of the intrinsic nervous system of the human heart. Together with the possibility of the local control of coronary blood flow mentioned above, evidence from other species indicates that the intracardiac ganglia are not simply relay stations of vagal input, since they also receive sympathetic innervation; they may be involved in intrinsic reflexes; and may influence extrinsic nerve fibres (for example Ellison and Hibbs 1976;Gagliardi et al 1988).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

The intracardiac neurones of the fetal human heart in culture

et al. 1990

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Dissociated cell culture preparations were employed to study intracardiac neurones of the atria from human fetal hearts at 9 to 21 weeks' gestation. Intracardiac neurones were not observed in cultures dissociated from the ventricles. Single neurones, as well as groups, could be identified by phase-contrast microscopy in all of the atrial cultures prepared from 14 to 21 weeks' gestation, and protein gene product 9.5-like immunoreactive neurones were detected in cultures from as early as 10 weeks' gestation. The neurones were mononucleate, with a prominent nucleolus or multiple nucleoli, and often had extensive neurites. Neurones tended to be bigger in cultures from later stages in gestation, and these cells appeared to be more mature with a complex pattern of neurite outgrowth. Many neurones from 15 to 20 weeks' gestation expressed somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in culture. A very low proportion of cultured neurones was immunoreactive for neuropeptide Y and its C-terminal flanking peptide. Neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactive neurones also contained 5-hydroxy-tryptamine-like immunoreactivity in culture, but dopamine beta-hydroxylase-like immunoreactive neurones were not detected. This study is the first description of human intracardiac neurones in culture and forms the essential baseline for further direct investigation of these cells.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%